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Women with Disabilities: Barriers and Facilitators to Accessing ...

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WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES: BARRIERS AND FACILITATORS TO ACCESSING SERVICES DURING PREGNANCY, CHILDBIRTH AND EARLY MOTHERHOODSchool of Nursing <strong>and</strong> Midwifery, Trinity College DublinAlakus etal (2007)Buultjens<strong>and</strong>Liamput<strong>to</strong>ng (2007)Montgomery et al(2006)AustraliaAustraliaCanadawomen <strong>with</strong>postpartumdepression mayencounterExploreclinicians’ <strong>and</strong>service users’view on currentservices <strong>and</strong>gaps in servicesprovided <strong>to</strong>parents <strong>with</strong>mental healthdifficulties whohave childrenunder 5 yearsTo explorewomen’sexperience ofpostpartumdepression(PPD)Describemothers <strong>with</strong>serious mentalillnessexperience ofmotheringFocused groupworkshopsInterviewsInterviewscare <strong>to</strong> new mothers,<strong>with</strong> problemsincluding PPD34 cliniciansrecruited frommental healthservices. Number ofservice users notidentified10 women admitted<strong>to</strong> a mother <strong>and</strong>baby unit20 mothers recruitedthrough a mentalhealth serviceFear of shaming the family <strong>and</strong> desire <strong>to</strong>maintain family harmony. Lack of spousalsupport <strong>and</strong> validation of need <strong>to</strong> seek helpLack of interagency collaboration <strong>and</strong>communication between services, lack ofaccessible support groups for parents <strong>with</strong>young children. Health care professionalsnot aware of services available <strong>and</strong> unable<strong>to</strong> provide this information <strong>to</strong> service usersLack of knowledge about infant mentalhealth issues among professionals workingin adult mental health service. Lack ofawareness among maternal <strong>and</strong> childhealth that a woman may have a mentalhealth difficulty. Fear of loss of cus<strong>to</strong>dy<strong>Women</strong> perceived that the support offeredwas more focused on the baby rather thanmother’s needs Shame was a barrier forsome women accessing care. <strong>Women</strong> didnot receive education about PPD <strong>and</strong> werenot aware of services available or thatmother <strong>and</strong> baby units existed.<strong>Women</strong> used strategies <strong>to</strong> hide their illness,<strong>to</strong> protect children from discrimination.<strong>Women</strong> prioritised children’s needs overtheir own. Medication only ‘masked’symp<strong>to</strong>ms. Feared hospitalisation asincreased risk of cus<strong>to</strong>dy loss. Health careprofessionals perceived as having limitedunderst<strong>and</strong>ing of their distress <strong>and</strong>provided little focused assistance around181

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